Cap applying apparatus



July 27, 1943. w MAR-rm v 2,325,i 66

CAP APPLYING APPARATUS Original Filed June 23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 144M010 /4. /%w7'//v 2 Sheats-$heet 2 INVENTOR 6495010 fif/VA/W/A I (3- RN EY July 27, 194 3. H, w. MARTIN CAP APPLYING APPARATUS Original Filed June 23, 1941 cap applying mechanism;

Patented July 27, 1943 Y UNITED-STATES 'QFEICE' CAP APPLYING ABI ARATUS Harold W. 1\ .[a.rt in, Malverne, N. Y., assigimr to American Seal-Kap Corporation of Delaware, Wilmington, Del, a corporation of Delaware Original application June 23, 1941, Serial No.v 399,280. Divided and this application August 26, 1941, Serial No. 408,291

8 Claims (01. zet -88.1) v

This application is a division of the c'o-pending application of Goodwin and Martin, Ser. 399,280, filed June 23, 1942, for Capping .ma-

chine.

An object of the invention is to provide :a mechanism of the above type having novel and improved details of construction and features of operation.

Another object is to provide anovel andimproved mechanism of the above. type having characteristics suited for commercial operation. Another objectis to provide. novel and improved mechanism for applying a cap of the type above indicated to a bottle with'the adhesive heat-softened for sealing. Y 1 5 Another object is to provide .novel' and improved mechanism for applying caps to bottle necks.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed. a Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are pointed out more particularly in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself may be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accom panying drawings forming a part thereof' in which a specific embodiment of the invention has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan viewof a cap applying and sealing mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig, 2 is an end view, partly in section, of the Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4 -4 of Fig.3; and f Figs. 5, 6 and "7 are detail views illustrating successive steps in the capping and sealing operation. V Y r u H In the following description and inthe claims certain specific terms havebeen rusedfor; convenience in referring to various details of the 'as broad an interpretation as the state of: the

art willpermit; j x u Referringtothe drawings more in detail, the invention is, shown' in Fig. -1:as, applied to a capping and sealing mechanisnr jcomprising ,magazin'e, M. having a plurality of tubes, adapted to contain aplurality of stacks ofnest ed caps for successive application to milk bottles, a picker mechanism P, w hich is adaptd-topick successive capsj from said'stacks and supply 'themrto a chute-.0. along which thezcaps roll on the lower, edges of their flared skirts, in the path of radiant heat rays which are focused. onto the adhesive carried by. the skirt. From the chute C-.the caps pass'to a cap applying station '8 where theyrneet and are picked off ;by'the advancing necks of, milk bottles andarecarried to a bank of rotatingv capping heads 'H;whichcontract the. skirts around the, necks of the bottles and hold the same under sealing pressure. a

with milk,,thenc e past the cap applying station i S and to the capping'he'ads'Habove. mentioned, after which they are-redelivered tothe conveyor. The filling station F and the. capping heads H form a part of the standardfilling and'capping apparatus; the details of which form no part of the present invention. The capping heads H may, for example, be of the form disclosed in a co-pending application, Goodwin and Martin,

' Ser. 333,752, for .Cappinghead. The capping invention. These terms, however, aretobe given head is particularly designed tofold-"and seal caps of the type referred 'tohereinh It is to be understood, however, that other types of capping heads and other types of caps may be usedif desired. 7 1

Themagazine M,-picker P and chute C, in accordance with the, present invention; are formed as a unit mounted on a suitable pedestal which may be positioned to supply caps with heat softened adhesive to the milk bottle heads as they advance fromthe filler F to thecapping heads H on a standard filling and capping machine as above mentioned. These mechanisms are described more indetail in application 399,280 referred to above. This application relates specifically to the capping stations.

The caps are discharged from the chute C into a vertical delivery: chute I95, Fig. 2, whereinthey drop onto a plate I96." The chute I may be secured between brackets l4lbyapivcted latch bar. I83; andmay be providedwitha positioning j I lip lii2awhich-restsonone oflthebracketsflfl,

' station. liilhe adapted to engage recesses 20L Fig. 4, to frictionally position the plate I96 for the purpose to be described. v W V 1 The plate 198 is provided with a plurality of arms 202 Which are adapted to .pass beneath I the end of the chute I95 anrl to'form stopson which the caps '20 rest in vertical position, as

shown in Figs. 2 and 3. lIhe'arms 2202 :are 1 separated by recesses 203'wni'eh aretof a shape suited to receive the neck of an advancing milk bottle 204 so that the plate I95 is rotated-:by said bottle as it passes the cap applying station; in the embodiment shown iniEigQ 4, -'ea'ch" bbttle rotates the plate I96 one-third hf acomplete above mentiened by way of example, substantial- "revelation and positions the 's'uccee'di'n'g :recess #203 to loe 'engaged by'ithe ineck o'f the :rfext {suc- 'eeedin'g bottre.

" llnedeiiveryend (if rt-he chute Films: rcvided with a eoritrol piafteizl 0, -wliichiis;slida'bly;mountj edon rods 32 I 'I hdld in abraeket -2'I'2 let'fitachd tonne lower end -10 rtneicnutevlat anu'F ressed iinwstndly ibyzsprings 21 3. iTh'e zplatet'z I 11 :is prefeneJo'ly in'ciineii 'slig ntly'fa s' shown, andr is ipro widen with an inneri apturned' lip i214 arounfl wnienrthe'ica isiides as zit :is' tipped from vertical ate laofiiz'crital positi'on' the advancing bottlej The pia'te wilds spctsitioned so that'fin normal operation itne're aska clearance between the plate aiiu thel'bcttle scapiso that the cap -does n'ot -.-;m- @age'tne plate. 7 fieweve zir the ca is income ctaiys o'sitioneufwith respect to the advancing "bottle meek fa greater amount or fclearance ways-be reto permit fthe'cap toitiirn as indicated nil-Fig. in res onse to amevementtof the :bottle neck. snonld this icccur, anypres'sure :exerteu by th'e tai a ainst the mete-med flange- 21:4 Titer-'- ztintslithe plate 52" 0 "to slide il-iorizontally so as to .reieaseithe icap landiprmit the same to move caps thus positioned are then discharged onto the conveyor and are ready for delivery or shipment. a

It is to be understood that the time of heating of the caps in the feed chute C and the sealing time of the capping head 22l maybe selected in accordance with thesparticular adhesive being used so that the adhesive is first heated to the .proper temperature for softening the same and "m" the caps are later held under pressure in the ssewiing head a suflicient time to allow the adhesive to set and permanently secure the folds The adhesive tur'e substantiallyimmediately by the cold milk bottle wl'ren ithe skirt is folded therearound in th'e eaipping h'e'a'd. At the speed of operation 1y lflashflheating and flash cooling is obtained. In this way, the adhesive-coated, skilfted caps are applied-Ito iimilk-bottles and sealed thereon fflliliiing'ithe time usually required for applying macs to milk lio'ttles'in fstandar'd nning mmeasspiriguinachines. The cost "of operation and "the satztention required mt'he'd-airy isaeeordingwnot zgreaitlyi increased, an important feature in' the dairy industry where the maivgin df profit is -c lecidedlyss'mal'l and-the cost of cappin must be .kepttoiaziriiini-rnum; I V Y l'iklthdugh in specific s'embediment of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, sis 'tto'ibe ninderstoo'dsthat various changes and modifications/may Iibe m'ade therein as -iiiilhb'e "mezdily :apparent aerial-person skilled lin ill-re art. Furthermore, the various features set forth elbove may :be iapplied :ii'rdividually to bther types of icaippingemaicrnneszand iforiother uses and are-not .nes'tricted fto'zthe :specific combination-disclosed. Lhe iimteriticmzis: brilyito be limited in accordance mthsthesscqpe offtheifel'low-ing claims.

1. In a machine for :applying 5to"'-.'containers and isealiing theiecm; maiitiallyl :pzieform'e'd T'hOOd scapsThayi-ng sfolda bl'ezpleated skirts carrying -a thermoplastic adhesive for securing the foldsitoitre'elysrmto iiih'e :bettleneck. iErnther-m'o're, should map i fte'nd 'to'ti 11 sier slide from the bottle meek cerotherwise iiye'iincnrrectiy positioned the 'ifiazt :plazteza im serves to limit such movement and coizcaiuse th'eicap to lee seated on "the bott'le neck and itoi'emainithereo-n as the 'bot'tle passes'to the tiaip thus seated is infli- :cettedmtEigjiS; r K

- "Dhelbot'tle meek withhth'e .cap 20il'oosely='seated :SensbIoIzBZiBftdZ I :Imaa :strndardziillingzand mapping machine of :the i-typeiahevre mdicasted platiioians (not 'shown) elevate the :bettle's zinto Ithe capping zheads which advance ithe piartformsand :hold'the folfied ;skirts .under pressure a isufli'ciezit' length 10f time toipermitthe adhesive to :set. The-hotmiss iarc :gclren lowered fromithe heads RBI "as ;in-

in Fig. '.7,.zieeaving the .oaps 'Fcompleteiy V sealefi on :the :bottle neck. mne'botties "with the geth er, :mechani'sm Tori-supplyingindividualv'caps, with thewldhesive ssoftenedfor scaling, to ia capping station in substantially vertical iposi'tionto Jae engaged "by the advancing *c'ontainer's and seated=ensuchreenta'iners by the horizental move .ment =thereof past :sa-id cappingwtatio'n, 'said mechanism scum-prising a vdelivejry 'chut'e' termihating sat xsaid 35station, a rotatable imexnber mounted below-the endofsaid-delivery chute and having blades :spaeed-beloW-said chute to engage and .supportxa capdn -vertical position-as itia'lls to the discharge send of said chute, said-member rotating with the advancing bottle necks to thereby .tiltssaid caps from the vertical onto the bottlenecks as :the latter advance :past said capl'ng station. I 2.. In a.machinecfoltapplyingto containers and sealing thereon, partially preformed :hood caps having ifoldableipleated skirts carrying a thermoplastic adhesive for securing the folds together,

mechanism for supplying individual caps, with -'cooled to a setting tempera a cap in verticalposition as it fallsto the discharge end of said chute,said rotatable member having recesses intermediate said blades to receive and be engaged by the advancing bottle necks to be rotated by the bottles-in advancing past'said capping station; said rotatingblade'and the end of said chute cooperating to tiltsaid cap the end of said delivery chute and having blades from the vertical onto the bottle neck as the latter advances past said capping station.-

' 3'. In a machine for applying to containers and sealing thereon,'partially preformed hood-caps having foldable pleated skirts carrying a thermoplastic adhesive for securing the folds together,

mechanism for supplying individual caps, with the adhesive softened for sealing, to a capping station in substantially vertical position to be engaged by the advancing containers and seated on such containers by the horizontal movement thereof past said capping station, said mechanism comprising a delivery chute terminating at said station, means to hold said caps at the delivery end of said chute in vertical position for capping and a horizontal plate arranged at the discharge end of said chute and extending forwardly in .the direction of travel of said bottles to overlie advances past said capping station, and resilient means mounting said plate for limited horizontal parallel movement in the, direction of movement of said bottle toprovide clearance for the passage of an irregular or misplaced cap.

4. In a machine for applying to containers and sealing thereon, partially preformed hood caps having foldable pleated skirts carrying a thermoplastic adhesive'for securing the folds together, mechanism for supplying individual caps, with the adhesive softened for sealing, to a capping station in substantially vertical position to be engaged by the advancing containers and seated on such containers by the horizontal movement thereof past said cappingstation, said mechanism comprising a delivery chute terminating at said station, means to hold said caps at the delivery end of said chute in vertical position for capping and a horizontal plate arranged at the discharge end of said chute and extending forwardly in the direction of travel of said bottles to overlie said cap as it is tilted from the vertical on the advancing bottle neck for guiding and positioning said caps onto said neck, said plate having an upturned lip at its forward edge about which the cap is tilted onto the bottle neck as the bottle advances past said capping station and having an inclined lower surface adapted to position and set said cap on the bottle neck, and resilient means mounting said plate for limited horizontal parallel movement in the direction of movement of said bottles to provide clearance for the passage of an irregular or misplaced cap. a

' 5. In a machine for applying to containers an sealing thereon, partially preformed hood caps having foldable pleated skirts carrying a thermoplastic adhesive for securing the folds together, mechanism for supplying individual caps, with the adhesive softened for sealing, to a capping station in substantially vertical position to be engaged by the advancing containers and seated on such containers by the horizontal movement thereof past said capping station, said mechanism comprising a delivery chute terminating at said station, a rotatable member mounted below spacedbe-low said chute to engage andsupport a capin vertical -position as it falls to the discharge end of said-chute, said-memberrotating with the advancing bottle necks to thereby tilt said caps from the vertical onto the bottle necks as the latter advance-past said capping station, 7 and a horizontal platearra'ngedat the discharge end of said chute and extending in the direction of travel of said'bottle, said plate having a lower surface adaptedto overlie said cap for positioning the sameonsaid bottle neck as the bottle advances-past saidcappi-ng station. H V

6. In a machine -for 'applying to containers and sealing thereon, partially preformed hood caps having foldable pleated skirts carrying a thermoplastic adhesive for securing the folds to gether, mechanism for supplying individual caps,

with the adhesive softened for scaling, to a capping station in substantially vertical position to be engaged by the advancing containers and seated on such containers by the horizontal movement thereof past saidcapping station, said mechanism comprising a delivery chute terminating at said station, 'a rotatable member 'mounted below the end of said delivery chute and having blades spaced below said chute to engage and support a cap in vertical position as it falls to the discharge end of said chute, saidmember rotating with the advancing bottle necks to thereby tiltsaid caps from the vertical ontothe bottle necks as the latter advance past said capping station, and a horizontal plate arranged at the discharge end of said chute and extending,

in the direction of travel of said bottle, said plate having a lower surface adapted to overlie said cap for positioning the same on said bottle neck as the bottle advances past said capping on such containersby the horizontal movement thereof past said cappingv station, said mechanism comprising a delivery chute terminating at said station, a rotatable member mounted below the end of said delivery chute and having blades spaced below saidchute to engage and support a cap in vertical position as it falls to the discharge end of said chute, said rotatable member having recesses intermediate said blades to receive and be engaged by the advancing bottle necks to be rotated by the bottles in advancing past said capping station, said rotating blade and the end of said chute cooperating to tilt said cap from the vertical onto the bottle neck as the latter advances past said capping station, and friction means holding said rotatable'member in its respective cap receiving position whereby said plate is automatically advanced step by step by the progression of bottles passing said'capping station.

8. In a machine for. applying to containers and sealing thereon, partially preformed hood caps having foldable pleated skirts carrying a thermoplastic adhesive for securing the'folds, together, I

mechanism for supplying individual caps, with the adhesive softened forsealing, to a capping ;g:aged:by;.the advancing containers and :seatedon such containers -by ;the,.horizonta1 vmovement :theneoi past :saidcapping station,:said mechanism comm-Ring azldeliveryohute terminating at said ;station',;a notatable member mounted below the end, of. said :deliveny chute and having blades spaced below saidchutestoenga'ge and support agzcapisin vertical position as jit falls to the discharge end of :said :ch'ute, said rotatablei'member having .rccesseswintermediate said blades to. re-

oeive and be engaged .bythe "advanoing .bottle necks to be rotated -bythe bottles inadvancing past said :capping'station; said rotating blade and V wash I V stationingsubstantiailywerticazljpositiorrto.be enthe end of saidchute cooperating to tilt said cap :frpmthe verticalzonto the bottle neokas thedat- -station,-"said friction means comprising spring pressed-members engagingrecesses insaid. mem- -,=ber which are brought into alignment therewith when said member is at-thesuccessivacap :reveiv.-

ing1positionp- 4 v a :HAROLD W. MARTIN. V 

